What do you do when you enter a dressing room full of top professionals? You raise your game and make the most of the opportunity, says Steve Bruce.
Brucey is the latest guest on the UTD Podcast, and he tells tales of his career and the success he enjoyed during his time at Old Trafford.
In the podcast - which is available to listen to or watch on Man Utd.com and in our app from 17:00 BST today (9 May) - Steve is asked about his first impressions of United, after he signed for the club from Norwich City in 1987.
Coming into a dressing room that included the likes of Bryan Robson, Gordon Strachan and Norman Whiteside, our legendary centre-back says he felt a need to prove himself.
“I’ve got my chance now, am I going to take it?”
Bruce began, recalling the moment he realised the significance of signing for the Reds.
“Of course, nothing takes you from the step from Norwich to Man United. Man United was the biggest one of all but I was determined after the 10 years I’d had was [that] I’m going to try to enjoy this.
”This has got to be the ultimate.“
Bruce was, all of a sudden, rubbing shoulders with United greats, and says that, despite initially being awestruck, he knew he had to raise his levels.
“I’ll never forget the first time walking into the dressing room with Whiteside and McGrath and Robson and Strachan and Olsen, and these people,”
he added.
“[I was] thinking, I’ve only just seen these on the telly before, you know, and now I’m trying to kick a ball with them.
”I remember watching Paul McGrath thinking, am I really going to take over from him? God, what a player he is, you know!
“But I was determined to make sure that I was going to give it my best shot.”
Steve Bruce's UTD Podcast is available from 17:00 BST across our official platforms today (Tuesday 9 May).